When I first met Anna I liked her straight away. Maybe it was her fluffy hat and dimply grin, maybe it was the bright flowers on her table, or maybe it was because she offered me a free sample of fruit tea, yum! I tried her homemade tea and jam and came straight back for more. She uses whole fruit and flower combinations that just really work well – in a teacup or on toast, amazing! I asked if I could interview her and she responded with an invitation to dinner.
true story
Chinese Feats: Seth and Tang Poetry
There are some people who have really made friends with the Chinese language and it comes out of them so naturally that you need a double-take to make sure they are not Chinese. I was so inspired by these people’s hard work that I decided to interview them for some tips and wisdom to help the rest of us on our journey towards fluency.
Name: Seth
Nationality: Alaska
Learning Chinese for: 6 years (on and off)
Chinese Proficiency: HSK6 + Continue reading
Chinese Feats: Olof and Gamification
There are some people who have really made friends with the Chinese language and it comes out of them so naturally that you need a double-take to make sure they are not Chinese. I was so inspired by these people’s ability that I decided to interview them for some tips and wisdom to help the rest of us on our journey towards fluency.
Name: Olof
Nationality: Sweden
Learning Chinese for: 7 years (on and off, mainly self-taught)
Chinese Proficiency: HSK5-6 Continue reading
Chinese Feats: Bjorn and Traditional Chinese
There are some people who have really made friends with the Chinese language and it comes out of them so naturally that you need a double-take to make sure they are not Chinese. I was so inspired by these people’s ability that I decided to interview them for some tips and wisdom to help the rest of us on our journey towards fluency.
Name: Bjorn
Nationality: South Africa
Learning Chinese for: 9 years (on and off)
Chinese Proficiency: Fluent Continue reading
Chinese Feats: Rebecca and Raspberries
There are some people who have really made friends with the Chinese language and it comes out of them so naturally that you need a double-take to make sure they are not Chinese. I was so inspired by these people’s ability that I decided to interview them for some tips and wisdom to help the rest of us on our journey towards fluency.
Name: Rebecca
Nationality: USA
Learning Chinese for: 10 years (on and off)
Chinese Proficiency: Fluent Continue reading
Culture Shock
First milestone reached: six months in China. What does that feel like? What am I supposed to feel? Acclimatised? Adapting to a new culture, apparently, is supposed to happen in stages:
Step 1: The Honeymoon Stage
When you first arrive in a new culture, differences are intriguing and you may feel excited, stimulated and curious. Like any new experience, there’s a feeling of euphoria when you first arrive and you’re in awe of the differences you see and experience. You feel excited, stimulated, enriched.